Method and apparatus for a shoe

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for a backless shoe, such as a mule or slide, is provided. The apparatus includes a concave backing having a heel strap and an ankle strap. The heel strap configured to fit around the underside of the backless shoe and the ankle strap configured to fit around an ankle of a foot. The apparatus is configured to prevent material from becoming caught between the sole of the backless shoe and the heel of a foot. Alternatively, the apparatus serves to stabilize the foot and provide ankle support. The apparatus may also assist in preventing the foot from sliding out of the sole of the backless shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention pertain generally to women's shoes, and more particularly pertain to shoes that have no backing.

Particular women's shoes, especially those without a backing, generally referred to as a mule, a slide, or a strapless sandal. The backless shoe typically has a sole for the foot to rest upon and a front portion that cover's the woman's foot. The shoe usually does not have a back and therefore does not provide support for the wearer. Thus, the lack of a back support may cause backless shoe to be unstable and resulting in the wearer to possibly slip and stumble.

In addition, backless shoes cause long skirts, jeans, or pants to become caught or entangled between a wearer's heel and the sole of the shoe as a woman moves, walks or runs. Typically, the wearer has to remove the material caught between her heel and the shoe before continuing to move, walk or run.

Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus to be configured to be attached to a backless shoe to provide the wearer support as well as to prevent the material from becoming caught or entangled between the heel of a foot and the sole of a backless shoe and a method to stabilize a foot when wearing a backless shoe.

SUMMARY

An apparatus for a backless shoe having a sole and a heel, such as a mule or slide is provided. The apparatus includes a concave backing having a heel strap and an ankle strap. The heel strap is configured to fit around the heel of the backless shoe and the ankle strap is configured to fit around an ankle of a foot. The apparatus is configured to prevent material from becoming caught or entangled between the sole of the backless shoe and the heel of the foot. Alternatively, the concave backing is configured to provide support to the wearer of the backless shoe and prevent the foot from slipping out of the backless shoe.

In addition, a method for limiting motion of a foot is provided. The method includes attaching a shoe apparatus having an ankle strap, a heel strap and a concave backing to a backless shoe. The method also provides limiting the motion of an ankle and preventing a material from becoming entangled between a heel of the foot and a sole of the backless shoe

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes represent different instances of substantially similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical backless shoe as an example for purposes of better understanding certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate how long pants are caught or entangled with a backless shoe as an example for purposes of better understanding certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a shoe apparatus formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a shoe apparatus formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a shoe apparatus formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates the shoe apparatus configured on a backless shoe utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a right isometric view of a shoe apparatus configured on a backless shoe utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a left isometric view of a shoe apparatus configured on a backless shoe utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a shoe apparatus configured on a backless shoe worn by a wearer utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a shoe apparatus configured on a backless shoe while the wearer moves as utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, embodiments may be used with a pacemaker, a cardioverter, a defibrillator, and the like. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, unless otherwise indicated.

FIG. 1 shows a typical commercially available backless shoe 10 for purposes of better understanding certain embodiments of the present invention. Typically, the backless shoe 10 may be a mule type shoe, a strapless sandal, a thong (e.g. a flip-flop), an espadrille, a clog, and a slide type shoe. The backless shoe 10 also has an upper side 11 and a lower side 13. The upper side 11 includes a sole 12 that is configured to receive a foot, and the lower side 13 may include a heel 14. The type of heel 14 may, for example, include a thin heel, a stiletto styled heel, or dainty kitten heels and the like. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when a woman wears such a backless shoe 10 any material 16 having a long-length may be caught or entangled between the sole 12 of the backless shoe 10 and the heel of her foot. The material may include a long skirt, jeans, pants, slacks, trousers, maxi skirts, a sari, a kimono, a long wrap, a floor length dress, pajamas, a sarong, any material that extends past her heel (e.g., floor length) and the like. When a woman moves, walks or runs or just moves her ankle or foot while wearing such a backless shoe 10, the material may be caught or entangled between the sole 12 of the backless shoe 10 and a heel of a foot.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a shoe apparatus 20, FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a shoe apparatus 20, and FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a shoe apparatus 20 formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The description that follows is for a shoe apparatus 20 configured for a left shoe 10. A shoe apparatus 20 for a right shoe (not shown) may also be manufactured, however the sizes of the right ankle strap 24, left ankle strap 26, right heel strap 28, and left heel strap 30 may vary based on the shoe apparatus 20 being configured for a right shoe instead of a left shoe 10 as described below.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, shoe apparatus 20 includes a concave backing 22 shaped to complementary fit a heel of a foot. The concave backing 22 may be one integral piece or multiple pieces that are connected together (e.g., stitched, sewn, glued and the like). The base of the concave backing 22 may be configured to be flush with the sole 12 of backless shoe 10 or may extend below the sole 12. Alternatively, the concave backing 22 may rise to be taller along the Achilles tendon to provide the wearer of backless shoe 10 support, as well as for esthetic reasons. Optionally, the concave backing 22 may have a U-shaped cut-out around the heel to expose the skin of the heel for esthetic reasons. Attached to the concave backing 22 are a right ankle strap 24, a left ankle strap 26, a right heel strap 28, and a left heel strap 30. Each strap 24, 26, 28, and 30 has a first end and a second end. The second end is a free end.

The first end of straps 24, 26, 28 and 30 may be attached to the concave backing 22 by stitching the first end of the straps 24, 26 28 and 30 onto the concave backing 22. Alternatively, the first end of the straps 24, 26, 28 and 30 may be removably attached to the concave backing 22. Optionally, the first end of straps 24, 26, 28 and 30 may be integral to the body of the concave backing 22. The second end of each strap 24, 26, 28 and 30 is the free end. The second end of each strap 24, 26, 28 and 30 may include a connection mechanism 29, for example, a clasp fastener, a buckle fastener, a hook and an eye type fastener, a snap fastener, a spring fastener, a latch fastener, and a Velcro® fastener, a knot and the like.

In order to attach the shoe apparatus 20 to the backless shoe 10 and to a wearer's foot, the second end of strap 24 is configured to attach to the second end of strap 26, and the second end of strap 28 is configured to attach to the second end of strap 30. For instance, the right ankle strap 24 and the left ankle strap 26 are configured to be wrapped around the wearer's ankle and attached together (e.g., the second end of the right ankle strap 24 is configured to be attached with the second end of the left ankle strap 26). Optionally, the right ankle strap 24 (e.g., for a left shoe 10) may be configured to wrap about the wearer's calf to for esthetic reasons prior to being attached to the left ankle strap 26. Furthermore, the right heel strap 28 and left heel strap 30 are placed in front of the heel 14 on the lower side 13 of the backless shoe 10 and configured to be attached together to secure the shoe apparatus 20 to the lower side 13 of backless shoe 10.

The length of the straps 24 26, 28, and 30 may range from about 0.5 inches to twelve inches. In one example, a right ankle strap 24 may be eight inches, a left ankle strap 26 and the left heel strap may be about 0.5 inches, and the right heel strap 30 may be about 3 inches. The right ankle strap 24 has to be long enough to wrap around the wearer's ankle and up and around the calf and then attach to the left ankle strap 26 for a snug fit. The length of the right heel strap 28 has to be long enough to extend from the upper side 11 of backless shoe 10, across the width of the sole 12 on the underside 13 of backless shoe 10 and attach to the left heel strap 30. Alternatively, the left ankle strap 26 may be configured to be long enough to wrap around the wearer's ankle and up and around the calf and then attach to the right ankle strap 24 for a snug fit; and the length of the left heel strap 30 may be long enough to extend from the upper side 11 of backless shoe 10, across the width of the sole 12 on the underside 13 of backless shoe 10, and attach to the right heel strap 28. The width of the straps may be ⅛ inch, ¼ inch, ½ inch, ¾ inch, 1 inch, 1.25 inches, 1.5 inches and the like.

In an alternative embodiment, the right heel strap 28 and the left heel strap 40 may be replaced by a single heel strap (not shown) having a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end of the single heel strap may be stitched to the concave backing 22, removably attached to the concave backing 22, may be integral to the concave backing 22 or any combination thereof. The single heel strap may be manufactured from an elastic type material to stretch over (e.g., loop over) the front of the heel 14 so that the single heel strap tightly secures the shoe apparatus 20 to the lower side 13 of backless shoe 10. The length of the single heel strap may be smaller than the width of the sole 12 of the backless shoe 10 to provide a tight, snug fit against the heel 14 of shoe 10. Alternatively, the single heel strap may be equal to the width of the sole 12 of the backless shoe 10. Optionally, the single heel strap may have to be longer than the width of the sole 12, especially where the sole 12 is thicker near the heel 14. Alternatively the single heel strap may be manufactured from leather, smooth leather, lacquered leather, nubuck, bottom leather, natural hides, cloth, canvas, rubber, vinyl, leatherette, synthetic materials, natural hides, polymers, polyvinylchloride (PVC), textile type materials and the like.

FIG. 7 illustrates the shoe apparatus 20 configured on the backless shoe 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 illustrates a right isometric view of the shoe apparatus 20 configured on the backless shoe 10, and FIG. 9 illustrates a left isometric view of the shoe apparatus 20 configured on the backless shoe 10 utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the right ankle strap 24 is attached to the left ankle strap 26, and the right heel strap is attached to the left heel strap on the underside 13 of the backless shoe 10 in front of the heel 14. The concave backing 22 is shown to rest on the sole 12 of backless shoe 10.

FIG. 10 illustrates as an exemplary example, the shoe apparatus 20 configured on a backless shoe 10 as worn by a woman in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The right ankle strap 24 is shown to wrap around an ankle and attached to the left ankle strap 26 via a connection mechanism (e.g., a buckle).

FIG. 11 illustrates the shoe apparatus 20 configured on a backless shoe 10 while the ankle is in motion (e.g., in a walking motion) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 illustrates how the shoe apparatus 20 restricts the motion of the foot and prevents the heel of the foot from rising. By preventing the heel of the foot from rising, the shoe apparatus 20 prevents any material 16 (e.g., jeans, long skirts and the like) from becoming caught or entangled between the wearer's foot and the sole 12 of backless shoe 10. For instance, if the wearer is stationary (e.g., sitting), the foot may be in motion because the wearer of the backless shoe 10 is moving the ankle (e.g., tapping the foot, rotating the ankle, and the like) and the shoe apparatus 20 prevents the material from becoming caught or entangled between the wearer's foot and the sole 12 of backless shoe 10. Furthermore, if the wearer of the backless shoe 10 is moving, shoe apparatus 20 restricts the motion of the foot and prevents the heel of the foot from rising. By restricting the motion of the foot, the shoe apparatus 20 stabilizes the ankle. In addition, by restricting the motion of the foot, the shoe apparatus 20 prevents the foot from sliding laterally off the upper side 11 (e.g., sole 12) of the backless shoe 10 and thereby prevents the wearer from twisting and injuring an ankle.

In another embodiment, the backless shoe 10 may not include a heel 14. In such an embodiment, the shoe apparatus 20 may be used by the wearer to provide support to the ankle. Although no heel 14 is present, the right heel strap 28 may be configured to transverse the underside 13 of the backless shoe 10 and attach to the left heel strap 30 on the left side of the backless shoe 10. Alternatively, the left heel strap 30 may be configured to transverse the underside 13 of the backless shoe 10 to attach to the right heel strap 28 on the right side of the backless shoe 10. Optionally, a single heel strap may wrap around the underside 13 of the backless shoe 10.

The shoe apparatus 20 serves to stabilize the foot and provides support to the wearer. For instance, the concave backing 22 is configured to mold to the shape of the heel of the foot and thereby provides support to the ankle area. Thus, the shoe apparatus 20 also may prevent the foot from sliding out of the sole 12 of the backless shoe 10. In addition the shoe apparatus 20 by providing ankle support may prevent the ankle from twisting.

The shoe apparatus 20 is configured to be interchangeable between backless shoes 10 with minimum effort. Thus, the wearer may use one shoe apparatus 20 for many different backless shoes 10.

The shoe apparatus 20 may be made from a variety and combinations of materials. Examples of the types of materials include: smooth leather, lacquered leather, nubuck, bottom leather, polymers, rubber, waterproof materials, cloth, canvas, rubber, vinyl, leatherette, synthetic materials, natural hides, polymers, synthetic materials, polyvinylchloride (PVC), various textile type materials and the like. In an embodiment, the materials may be both lightweight and strong enough to provide sufficient support to a wearer's foot.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. While the dimensions, types of materials and coatings described herein are intended to define the parameters of the invention, they are by no means limiting and are exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means—plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure. 

1. A method for limiting motion of a foot, comprising: attaching a shoe apparatus having an ankle strap, a heel strap and a concave backing to a backless shoe; limiting the motion of an ankle; and preventing a material from becoming entangled between a heel of the foot and a sole of the backless shoe.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising configuring the concave backing to complementary fit a heel of the foot.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein preventing comprises stops the material from being caught or entangled between a sole of the backless shoe and the heel of a foot while the ankle is in motion.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein limiting motion comprises stabilizing the ankle and preventing the foot from sliding off a sole of a backless shoe.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ankle strap comprises a left ankle strap and a right ankle strap, the left ankle strap and right ankle strap configured to wrap around an ankle and attach together with a connection mechanism.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heel strap comprises a right heel strap and a left heel strap, the left heel strap and right heel strap configured to wrap under the sole of a shoe proximate to a heel of the shoe and attach together with a connection mechanism.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heel strap comprises a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the concave backing on a first side and the second end attached to the concave backing on a second side, and the heel strap configured to wrap under the sole of a shoe.
 8. An apparatus for a backless shoe having a sole and a heel, comprising: a concave backing having a heel strap and an ankle strap; the heel strap configured to fit under the sole of the backless shoe; and the ankle strap configured to fit around an ankle of a foot.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the concave backing is configured to complementary fit a heel of the foot.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the concave backing is configured to provide ankle support.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the concave backing is configured to prevent a heel of a foot from slipping out of the backless shoe.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the concave backing is configured to prevent any material from becoming caught between the sole of the backless shoe and a heel of a foot.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the material comprises at least a long skirt, jeans, pants, slacks, trousers, maxi skirts, a sari, a kimono, a long wrap, a floor length dress, pajamas, a sarong and any material that extends past a heel of a shoe.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the concave backing is configured to be interchangeable between backless shoes.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the heel strap comprises a right heel strap and a left heel strap, the right heel strap configured to attach to the left heel strap.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the heel strap comprises a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the concave backing on a first side and the second end attached to the concave backing on a second side, and the heel strap configured to wrap under the sole of a shoe.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ankle strap comprises a right ankle strap and a left ankle strap, the right ankle strap configured to attach to the left ankle strap.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ankle strap comprises a right ankle strap having a first end and a second free end and a left ankle strap having a first end and a second free end, the first end of the right ankle strap attached to a first side of the concave backing and the first end of the left ankle strap attached to a second opposite side of the concave backing, and the free end of the right ankle strap and the free end of the left ankle strap wrapped around the ankle and attached together with a connection mechanism.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the connection mechanism comprises at least one of a clasp fastener, a buckle fastener, a hook and an eye type fastener, a snap fastener, a spring fastener, a latch fastener, and a Velcro® fastener and a knot.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the concave backing, the ankle strap, and the heel strap comprise at least one of leather, smooth leather, lacquered leather, nubuck, bottom leather, natural hides, cloth, canvas, rubber, vinyl, leatherette, synthetic materials, natural hides, polymers, polyvinylchloride (PVC), elastic and textile type materials. 